Apparatus for distilling wood.



100.855,330. PATBNTBD MAY 20, 1007.

A. J. MOARTHUR.

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING WOOD. APPLIOATION FILED JULY11. 1900.

JAA-Mw ANDREW J. MCARTHUR, oF ooLLiNs, GEORGIA.

lAPPARATUS FOR DISTILLING WOOD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1907.

Application filed Jn1y11,1906. Serial No. 325,623.

To all whom it www] concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. MCARTHUR, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Collins, in the county of Tattnall and State ofGeorgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forDistilling Wood, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for distilling wood toobtain turpentine, creosote, tar and the various essential oils, acids,etc., secured by the process of destructive distillation.

In the ordinary process of distillation, which is carried out in thesystem under normal atmospheric pressure, the wood is distilled at averyT high temperature, which is necessary under such conditions to formand drive oil' the vapors. As a result the oils are, to a greater orless extent, decomposed or separated into their component gases, thusreducing and impairing the quantity and quality of the products.

The object of the present invention is to provide an a paratus, wherebythis objection is avoided, t e apparatus being designed for carrying onthe distillation operation in a vacuum, thus enabling the vapors to beformed and driven from the wood at suoli a relatively low temperaturethat the deccm-. position of 'the vapors will be prevented. Owing tothis fact a greater percentage and better quality of products may beobtained in a much shorter time than under the ordinary process. Theapparatus is so constructed that it may also be used for distillationunder the old rocess Jfor the production of creosote and t e otherheavier oils.

The accompanying drawing shows, partly in section and partly inelevation, a distilling apparatus embodying my invention.

1 is a retort inclosed in an ordinary masonry setting 2, which isprovided with a. furnace 3 and a smoke stack 4. The furnace is separatedfrom the retort'by an intervening arch or bridge wall 5, at the sides ofwhich are llues for the upward passage of the products of combustioninto the chamber in which the retort is inclosed, the latter beingspaced from the walls loi" the chamber so as to prevent the llames andproducts of combustion from coming directly intoy contact therewith.`

Leading from the retort, in which the wood` is placed for distillation,is a vapor outlet 6 with which communicate pipes 7 and 8.

The vpipe 7 is arched and extends above the pipe 8 and conveys theturpentine and other ike vapors to a condensing coil or Worm 9 disposedwithin a condensing chamber 10, in which the condensing operation iscarried out in th'e ordinary manner. The pipe 8 conducts the heavyvapors or oils to a resin or tar receiver 11 having a valved outlet 12.In this receiver is arranged a coil or worm 13 communicating eXteriorlyat each end with valved inlet and outlet pipes. As shown in the presentinstance, the u per end of the coil communicates with va ved water andsteam inlet pipes 14 and 15, while the lower end of the coil connectswith valved water and steam outlet pipes 14 and 15, whereby water'orsteam may be circulated through the coil for the purpose of condensingor retaining in a fluid state the contents of the receiver. Surroundingthe pipe 8 is a heating jacket 16 with which connect valved pipes 17 and18 for the admission and eX- haust of steam or any other suitableheating agent thereto, to keep the products flowing therethrough in aproperly fluid or liquid state.

The coil or worm 9 communicates at its lower end through a turpentinedelivery pipe 19 with a turpentine tank or receiver 20, and

also with a trap 21 having an outlet or drawoff pipe 22 and a vent pipe23, designed respectively for the withdrawal of the oils de` positedtherein and the escape of gases generated when the ordinary process ofdistillation is used.

The receivers 11 and20 are connected by pipes 24 and 25 with a vacuumpump 26, through the action of which a vacuum may be formed in thesystem, the pipe 24 being provided with a valve .24a to cut offcommunication between the condenser 11 and pump, while the pipe 25 isprovided with a valve 27, whereby the tank 20 may be thrown into and outof communication with the pump. The pipes 8 and 19 are respectivelyprovided with glass sight feed devices 28 and 29 through which thevapors or liquids flowing therethrough may be inspected, to note thecharacter and condition of such vapors and liquids. Avalve 3() isarranged in tliepipe 8 to cut oilT communication between the retort andreceiver 11 when turpentine and other li liter oils are to be made, asimilar valve 31 eing arranged between the pipe 19 and trap 21 to alsocut out the same during such operation. Valves 32 and 33 are furtherprovided to cut IOO IIO

ofi communication between the retort and coll 9 and between the coil -9and receiver'20 when the ordinary distilling process. is pursued in -themanufacture of creosote and treatment of the heavier products.Communicating with the vapor outlet 6 is a valved relief plpe 34,whereby air may-be quickly admitted to the s stem at the completion ofthe vacuum distil ing operation or when it is desired to distil underthe ordinary process.

In operation, the wood is placed in the retort 1, the valves properlyopened and the pump 26 `Started to form a vacuum in the system, thevacuum established -v being as nearly absolute as possible. The fire isthen started in the furnace 3 and heats the retort 1, the vaporsescaping through the outlet 6 into the pipes 7 and 8, through which theyare conducted to the receivers 11 and v20, the lighter vapors beingcondensed on their passage through the worm 9 in the c ondenser 10,while the heavier products are properly treated in the receiver 11.Owing to the fact that the operation is carried out in a vacuum, it isapparent that distillation will' occur ata very lowtemperature, so thatdecomposition of the vapors Will be prevented, whereby a larger amountand better grade of products is secured. When the ordinary process ofdistillation is employed the pump is cut out of the system b thecontrolling valves 24*L and 25, as will e readilyunderstoo'd, and indistilling creosote and other heavier oils the valve 31 is opened toconnect the trap 21 with the coil 9. By the arran ement of the valvesshown, the tank 1 1 or tan 20 may be lcut out of the system to permitthe use of the apparatus for distilling light or heavy oils. p

It will thus be seen that my invention provides, first, means wherebyair may be exhausted from .the system7 so that the process ofdistillation maybe carried out in a vacuum, second, independentcondensers for ytheI light and heavy products; third, means for cuttingeither of these condensers out of operation at will independently of oneanother; and, fourth, means for cutting out the pump, whereby theapparatus may be adapted for distilling and condensing light or heavyproducts or. both under. the ordi- Ilary PIOCGSS OI' ln 8. VaClluITl.

I am aware that it has heretofore been common to employ pumps towithdraw the gases or vapors as they are formed from the retort andcirculate them through the system, with the object of facilitating theirpassage `from the retort to the condenser and securing a free dischargeof the vapors from the retort,

and that such pumps have also been used to force the low grade gasesinto the firebox for the purpose of utilizing-the same as fuel. Myinvention differs radically in this respect from all prior distillingdevices, in that the pump 26 is isolated from the system, that is,

is not vdisposed in the line of the vaporconduit, but provides a meanswhereby the air may be preliminarily exhausted from the system to form avacuum therein, the distilling operation being thenceforth carried outin the vacuum so produced. By this means,

the pump may not only be cut out of the apparatus when the ordinaryprocess of distilation is to be employed, but, in serving as a means forthe exhaust of air from the system, secures the advanta es before setforth resulting from the disti lation in a vacuum and in addition,places the system in such a condition as to eii'ect a much more comvlete and rapid carrying out of the process o distillation, for thereason that no air is present to admix with orretard the flow of thevaors.

I) Havin thus described the invention, what is claime as new, is

1. In a distilling apparatus yof the character described, thecombination of a retort having a vapor outlet, a turpentine condenser, atar receiver,.conducting pipes leading from the vapor outlet to saidcondenser and receiver, a hermetically closed turpentine tank orreceiver communicating with the turpentine condenser, air exhaust pipesleading from the receivers, and a vacuum pum for exhausting` air throughsaid pipes, the atter being provided with valves for closingcommunication between the pump and receivers.

2. In a distilling apparatus of the character described, the combinationof a retort having a ,vapor outlet, a4 tur entine condenser, a tarreceiver, pipes lea ing from the vapor outlet to said condenser andreceiver, a turpentine tank or receiver communicating with theturpentine condenser, valved exhaust pipes communicating with thereceivers', a vacuum pump for extracting air through said pipes, and avalved relief pipe communicating with the vapor outlet.

3. Ina distiling apparatus of the character described, the combinationof a' retort having a vapor outlet, a tur entine condenser, atar'receiver, valve( conducting.

hausting air through said pipes, and a valved relief ipe for admittingair to the system.

4. n a distilling apparatus of the character describerh the combinationof a retort having a vapor outlet, a turpentine con-- denser com risinga vessel having a condensing coi therein, atar receiver, valvedconducting pipes leading from `the vapor outlet to the coil of thecondenser and tothe receiver, a turpentine tank or receiver, a deliverypipe connccting the coil of the con- IIO denser therewith, a trapcommunicating' In testimony whereof, IafIiX my'signture with the coil,valves for cutting out thel de in presence 0f two Witnessesivery pipeand trap, a Vacuum pump, va Ve exhaust pipes connecting said pumps with`ANDREW J' MQARTHUR 5 the ta'r and turpentine receivers, and a Witnesses:Y

valved reliefpipe connecting with thevapor J. M; MOARTHUR, outlet. ALVINLANGFORD.

